![Elevation map (km) and 10 m-wind vectors at midday (left) and sunflower wind chart over one Titan Day at the red dot location (right).-- [astro-ph.EP]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Mesoscale.png?resize=1200%2C720&ssl=1)
[astro-ph.EP] The knowledge of Titan’s near-surface atmosphere is sparse. The Huygens descent probe measured winds, and the multiple dune field observations and possible dust storms suggest active near-surface dynamics.
dunes
Posted inExtremeophiles and Extreme Environments
How A Desert Alga Helps Us Understand Plants’ Adaptability To Extreme Environmental Conditions
[Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau] A single-celled green alga from the sand dunes of the Negev Desert has, within just a few years, become a key model organism in modern photosynthesis […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Desert Worlds, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Status Report
The Spring Awakening of Martian Polar Dunes
During the Martian winter, carbon dioxide ice (dry ice) blankets various landforms, including dunes, in the northern high latitudes. As spring arrives, the ice sublimates, causing unique changes on the […]
Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Desert Worlds, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Status Report
Translucent Ice On Martian Dunes
Coordinating with the CaSSIS instrument on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, we acquired an image at this site for seasonal monitoring.
Posted inAstrogeology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Status Report
Defrosting Dunes in Kaiser Crater On Mars
The dark sand dune at the center of this observation is covered in a blanket of white seasonal ice in the winter. In this Martian springtime image, the western slope […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Status Report
Active High-Latitude Dune-Gullies On Mars
Gully and defrosting activity have been visible here along the edge of a dune field, along with blocks of frost. Observations of the same area help us check for repeat […]
Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs
NASA Tests Future Mars Droids In Death Valley
Next-generation drone flight software is just one of 25 technologies for the Red Planet that the space agency funded for development this year.
Posted inAstrogeology, Desert Worlds, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Status Report
Frosty Alcoves Viewed On Kaiser Crater Dunes On Mars
Kaiser Crater hosts a large field of sand dunes. Every winter the dunes are covered with a layer of seasonal carbon dioxide ice (dry ice). In early spring the ice […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Mars, Press Release
The Barchan Dunes on Mars
On Jan. 16, 2020, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) captured this image of two types of sand dunes on Mars: barchan and linear dunes.
Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Astrogeology, Europa, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Press Release
Iceworld Update: Hidden Snow Dunes In Antarctica
Sand dunes are a familiar sight along beaches and in deserts. While we know how regular sand dunes are formed, much less is known about dunes made of snow. In […]